Floor cleaning method for textile mills



G. SERESS ET AL 3,374,1118

FLOOR CLEANING METHOD FOR TEXTILE MILLS March 19, 1968 Filed Sept. 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 o 2| 1% 57 H T 40 4| T 31 iNVENTORffi 7 GEQEQE- seasssam? V \Maoxmow \N. HEwn'T w. .ATTOEALEKS March 19, 1968 s ss ET AL 3,374,118

FLOOR CLEANING METHOD FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed Sept. 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTORS GEORGE 5E2E-ssanc2 W HEWH'T fi BYWOONZOW.

' EdX'mMA d-Q'W ATTO ENE Y5 March 19, 1968 G. SERESS ET AL 3,374,118

FLOOR CLEANING METHOD FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed Sept. 6, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet s G IgVENTORS 6? E0265 ERE $321 WoomaowW. HEMTT A TTOENEVS United States Patent ()fifice 3,3 74,1 18' Patented Mar. 1 9, 1 968,

3,374,118 FLOOR CLEANING METHOD FOR TEXTILE MILLS ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A textile mill floor-cleaning method in which a barrier air stream adjacent the floor at one side of a machine row deflects fiber waste, being directed thereto by a cross air stream emanating from adjacent the floor at the other side of the machine row, toward a localized suction zone which is applied adjacent the floor level at the same side of the machine row as the barrier air stream, and wherein the barrier and cross air streams and the suction zone travel in unison in the same direction, the suction zone serving to suck in and collect the thus deflected fiber waste.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending US. application Ser. No. 273,884, filed Apr. 18, 1963, and entitled, Floor Cleaning Method for Textile Mills, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved method of removing fiber waste such as lint, fly and other lightweight material from the floor adjacent machines in a textile mill and is particularly concerned with an improvement in the method disclosed and claimed in US. Patent No. 3,053,- 700, granted Sept. 11, 1962.

The method disclosed in the aforementioned patent is currently in widespread use in the textile industry for cleaning the floors in textile mills. Such method involves the use of traveling cleaning equipment which includes a suction nozzle producing a localized suction zone at the floor, which suction zone is repeatedly moved along a predetermined path adjacent a row of textile machines and effects collection of the fiber waste sucked from the floor into the suction zone. In practicing the method of said patent it is generally desirable for increased efliciency to utilize blowing streams of air directed across the floor from the side of the row of machines opposite from the traveling suction zone to supplement the natural drift of lint on the floor and move it out from under the machines and into the path of travel of the suction zone.

However, in practice, the variations in air currents under the machines and the lightness of the fiber Waste has frequently resulted insome of the waste being moved beyond the path of the suction zone between machines and, in some cases, under the next row of machines, which is undesirable and reduces the efiiciency of the traveling suction cleaning.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method of collecting ambient fiber waste generated as an incident of the operation of textile machines, which includes applying a localized suction zone at the floor level adjacent at least one side of a row of textile machines while creating a barrier of moving air at the floor adjacent the same side of machines as the suction zone, in which the air forming the barrier generally flows toward the localized suction zone. The method further includes causing the localized suction zone and the barrier of air to move in a predetermined path of travel along one side of the row of machines while directing an auxiliary stream of air so that it flows outwardly from beneath the row of machines and toward the barrier of air, and so that fiber waste thus moved beneath the machines is deflected by the barrier of air toward the localized suction zone.

It is a further object of the invention to cause the suction zone, the barrier of air, and the auxiliary air stream to travel together for maximum cooperation and efiiciency.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of the type described, in which the auxiliary air stream flows inwardly from adjacent the side of the machines opposite from the side at which the air barrier and suction zone are located.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method as described above, in which suction zones are applied at the floor level adjacent opposite sides of the machines, a cooperating air barrier is created at either or both sides of the machines, and auxiliary air streams are caused to flow outwardly from beneath the machines and toward the corresponding air barrier or barriers.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 isan end elevation of a typical installation of rows of textile machines showing, in association with the centermost row, a traveling blowing: and suction cleaning means suitable for carrying out the method of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIGURE 1 and showing the corresponding textile machine in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the traveling suction and blower cleaners taken substantially along line 33 in FIGURE 2 and showing the direction of flow of the air barrier at one side of the corresponding textile machine, and also showing the direction of flow of the cross air stream from the opposite side of the machine toward the air barrier;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic plan view showing a first arrangement of the suction and blowing nozzles for effecting the flow of air according to the present method;

FIGURE 5 is a somewhat schematic: top plan view of another form of traveling cleaning apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of the present invention, and showing a second arrangement of suction and blowing nozzles which direct cross air streams and air ibarrier streams in perpendicular relationship from both sides of the row of textile machines; I

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of one of the suction tubes and its floor-sweeping suc tion nozzle showing the same provided with slots in one side thereof to assist in broadening the vertical component of the air barrier directed thereto, and being taken, for example, substantially along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic plan view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a third arrangement of suction and blowing nozzles in which the auxiliary air streams flow inwardly toward each other from opposite sides of the machines but at angles with respect to the path of travel thereof so that each auxiliary air stream intercepts the other auxiliary air stream at a point beneath the central portion of the machines and causes both air streams to be deflected outwardly generally toward the air barrier stream and the suction zone at the same side of the machines from which the corresponding auxiliary air stream emanates;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic plan view similar to FIGURE 7 showing a fourth embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the method in which a continuous tertiary air stream, such as may be produced by the usual spindledriving cylinder of a spinning frame, for example, flows outwardly from beneath the machines toward one side only of the machines and wherein the force of the tertiary air stream is coupled with the force of the auxiliary air stream from the side of the machines opposite from the side toward which the tertiary air stream is directed and causes both auxiliary air streams to flow outwardly toward the air barrier and suction zone at that side of the machines toward which flows the tertiary air stream; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic elevation of a lower portion of a textile machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like and particularly illustrating the rotating spindledriving cylinder and how it causes the tertiary air stream produced by rotation thereof to flow outwardly toward the path of travel of the suction and blowing nozzles at one side of the machine.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the ends of a plurality of rows of textile machines are shown in FIGURE 1, there being three such rows shown in the present instance indicated at A, B, C. The textile machines rest upon a floor F which forms aisles A, B between the rows of machines A, B and B, C, respectively. The textile machines in rows A, B, C are shown in the form of spinning or twister frames. However, it is to be understood that the textile machines illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 are representative of many different types of textile machines environmental to the present method, such as weaving looms, fly frames and the like, and wherein the machines are of such construction that fiber waste, such as lint and other light material generated as an incident of the operation of the textile machines, may settle upon the floor therebeneath and in the aisles therebetween, and so that such fiber waste may readily be moved along the floor, and beneath the machines by blowing air streams, as will be later described.

Portions of a track T are suitably supported to extend above and longitudinally of the rows of machines A, B, C, which track portions may be interconnected so the track T may extend over all the machine rows A, B, C in the textile room, for example. Although the method of the present invention may be carried out by a single combination suction and blowing traveling cleaning apparatus, as manifested in the form of apparatus shown in FIGURE 5, suitable means for carrying out the present method is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 in the form of two spaced traveling cleaning apparatuses and 11 mounted to travel on track T. The apparatus 10 is in the form of a traveling suction cleaner and the apparatus 11 is in the form of a traveling blowing cleaner. The traveling cleaners may include respective self-propelled carriage's 12, 13- which may be interconnected, as by a rod 14. i

The traveling suction and blowing cleaners 10, 11 may be, for example, of the types disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,011,202, dated Dec. 5, 1961 and US. Patent No. 3,055,038, dated Sept. 25, 1962. Accordingly, only so much of the traveling cleaners 10, 11 will be described as is necessary to a clear understanding of the first embodiment of suitable means for effecting the method of the present invention. I

The traveling suction cleaner 10 includes a suction casing 15 which is mounted on carriage 12. Carriage 12 is in the form of a wheeled electric motor, in this instance, which imparts rotation to an air impeller 16 positioned within an upper or blower casing 17 mounted on suction casing 15 and communicating therewith. Blower casing 17 is provided with an outlet 20 to which a suitable collection chamber 21 is communicati-vely connected, said collection chamber 21 being provided with a movable door 22 on its free end which may be opened periodically for emptying the collected fiber waste from collection chamber 21.

Collection chamber 21 may be provided with a suitable filter 23 in the upper wall thereof through which the air from impeller 16 may escape during the operation of traveling suction cleaner 10. Lower casing 15 of traveling suction cleaner 10 is provided with a pair of outwardly and downwardly curving hollow arms or ducts 25, 25

which communicate with casing 15 and have the upper ends of respective flexible suction tubes 27, 27' communicatively connected thereto. The lower ends of suction tubes 27, 27' have respective laterally flared suction nozzles 30, 30 thereon whose open lower ends are supported in closely spaced relation above the floor F by suitable supports 31, 31' attached to nozzles 30, 30.

Thus, each nozzle 30, 30' serves to apply a localized suction zone at the floor level adjacent the corresponding side of the corresponding row of textile machines. Since the traveling cleaners 10, 1 1 are self-propelled, the localized suction zones effected by suction nozzles 30, 30' travel along respective predetermined paths at the floor surface and substantially parallel with corresponding sides of the adjacent row of machines. Any fiber waste, such 7 as lint and other lightweight material, sucked into suction nozzles 30, 30 is conveyed to and collected in the collection chamber 21 as the fiber waste passes through the corresponding suction tubes 27, 27' through suction chamber 15 and, thence, through blowing casing 17 into collection chamber 2 1.

The traveling blowing cleaner 11 may include a blower casing 35 mounted upon carriage or motor 13 and havin a continuously driven rotary air impeller 36 positioned therein. Impeller 36 draws air into casing 35 through a suitable inlet opening 37. Casing 35 may be symmetrical in plan and has a pair of outwardly extending hollow arms 40, 41 thereon whose outer ends curve downwardly and have the upper ends of respective blowing tubes 42, 43 communicatively connected thereto. Preferably, tubes 42, 43 are offset laterally of the path of travel of the travelling cleaners 10, 11 and are preferably of pliable construction.

In traveling blowing cleaning apparatus of the type described, it is customary to provide one or more blowing nozzles or air outlets on the inner surface of each blowing tube, such as the blowing tubes 42, 43, so as to direct blasts of air inwardly toward the machines for dislodging fiber waste from the various parts of the machines and so the fiber waste may settle upon the floor beneath the machines. Further, the lower end portions of such blowing tubes have sometimes been provided with blowing nozzles for directing air inwardly beneath corresponding machines so as to blow fiber waste outwardly from beneath the machine and into the aisles at the opposite sides thereof from the respective blowing nozzles. The lower portion of blowing tube 43 is shown provided with such a blowing nozzle 45 which is spaced above the floor F, but directs an air stream or streams (indicated by arrows 46 in FIGURES 3 and 4) adjacent to and across the floor beneath the machines and toward the opposite side thereof. As heretofore stated, air streams adjacent the floor level, such as are effected by nozzle 45 of traveling blowing cleaner 11 would in some instances blow some of the fiber waste across the floor beyond the path of travel of the corresponding suction zone or zones.

In order to restrict the range of movement of fiber waste, as it is blown from under the row of machines by the cross air stream 46 flowing from nozzle 45, so that the fiber waste will be positioned Within the range of the localized suction zone eflected by suction nozzle 30, the lower portion of the blowing tube 42 of traveling blowing cleaner 11 may be provided with a blowing nozzle 47 spaced above the floor at its point of communication with blowing tube 42 and which directs a blowing stream of air adjacent to the floor generally parallel to or longitudinally of the row of machines and toward suction nozzle 30 at the same side of the corresponding row of machines. The latter stream of air forms a barrier of moving air, indicated by arrows 50, which intercepts the air stream 46 and the fiber waste directed across and beneath the machines from the other side thereof by the blowing air stream 46. Thus, cross air stream 46 may be termed as an auxiliary air stream with respect to the barrier air stream 50.

As the fiber waste approaches the air barrier 50, which moves along the side of the row of machines at which thecorresponding suction nozzle 30 moves, the colliding currents of air tend to produce vortices which impart rotary motion to the fibers so that fibers form into balls of fiber waste which are readily moved toward and attracted by the corresponding suction zone. The barrier 50 of moving air directs fiber waste in the path thereof toward the suction nozzle 30. The barrier 50 largely prevents fiber Waste, directed across the floor beneath the machines from the other side thereof by air stream '46, from being blown beyond the path of travel of the suction zone efiected by nozzle 30 and between the adjacent rows of machines, and thereby improves the efficiency of the adjacent suction zone in sweeping and removing fiber waste from the floor F.

The blowing nozzles 45, 47 are shown extending in what may be an ideal direction for producing the desired results. However, it has been found that, under various circumstances, the nozzles 45, 47 may be positioned to extend at various angles about the vertical axes of the corresponding blowing tubes 42, 43 to improve the efficiency of the traveling cleaning apparatuses. In most instances, air stream 4 6 flows substantially toward the opposite suction zone or between the blowing tube 42 and suction nozzle 30, and the air which forms barrier 50 flows toward the suction zone at the same side of the machines and prevents the fiber waste directed from beneath the machines by air stream 46 from getting into the adjacent aisle and out-of-range of the corresponding suction zone. Although the blowing nozzles 45, 47 are shown spaced substantially above the closed lower ends of the respective tubes 43, 42, it is apparent that the nozzles 45, 47 may be formed in, or connected to, the lowermost portions of tubes 43, 42, if desired.

The suction zone may move either behind or ahead of the cross air stream without adversely affecting efficiency of the suction zone. Air barrier 50 will direct loose fiber waste in its path toward the suction zone regardless of the direction of movement of nozzles 30, 47 longitudinally along the corresponding aisle.

Second embodiment of apparatus for effecting the present method Referring to FIGURE 5, there is shown a top plan view of a combination traveling suction and blowing cleaning apparatus suitable for practicing the present method in a manner similar to that of the separate traveling suction cleaner and traveling blowing cleaner 11 of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. However, the traveling cleaner of FIGURE 5 is so arranged as to direct blowing air streams 46a, 46a across the floor from both sides of the row of textile machines, which cross air streams do not conflict with each other, and wherein blowing air streams forming air barriers 50a, 50a flow toward both of the localized suction zones adjacent opposite sides of the row of machines, with the air barriers 50a, 50a intercepting the corresponding cross air streams.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the traveling cleaner may include a blower casing 60 and a suction casing 61 disposed one above the other and mounted for movement along a track 62 extending above a row of textile machines 63. Casings 60, 61 may be supported and propelled along track 62 in any suitable manner and, therefore, a detailed illustration and description of the supporting and propelling means is deemed unnecessary. By way of example, casings 60, 61 of FIGURE 5 may be supported and propelled along track 60 substantially in the manner disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,055,038 or 3,053,700.

In this instance, suction casing 61 is shown positioned above and resting upon blower casing 60, although it is apparent that suction casing 61 may be disposed beneath blower casing 60. Blower casing 60 may have a suitably driven rotary air impeller 65 therein for drawing air through a central opening 66 formed in the proximal walls of casings 60, 61. Thus, air impeller 65 sucks air into suction casing 61 and exhausts air from blower casing 60.

Suction casing 61 has the proximal ends of a pair of substantially diametrically opposed or laterally opposed outwardly extending hollow arms or ducts a, 25a communicatively connected thereto, which arms 25a, 25a may be of the same form as the arms 25, 25' of traveling suction cleaner 10 (FIGURES 2 and 3). Opposed end portions of arms 25a, 2511' have the upper ends of respective flexible suction tubes 27a, 27a (FIGURE 5) communicatively connected thereto. Laterally flared suction nozzles a, 30a are communicatively connected to the lower ends of tubes 27a, 27a.

Suction nozzles 30a, 30a (FIGURE 5) may be constructed and arranged in the same manner as suction nozzles 30, 30 (FIGURES 2 and 3) heretofore described and, accordingly a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. It should be noted, however, that the open lower ends of suction nozzles 30a, 30a move in longitudinal paths in close proximity to the floor substantially parallel with opposite sides of the row of machines 63 to thus apply respective localized suction zones at the floor level adjacent the corresponding sides of the textile machines. I

In FIGURE 6 the nozzle 30a and the adjacent lower portion of suction tube 27a are shown as being provided with respective elongate, vertically extending slots 64, 64 in the wall portions thereof which face toward the blowing nozzle 47a. Similar slots may be provided in all the suction nozzles and suction tubes of all the embodiments of apparatus disclosed in the present application, if desired. The slots 64, 64' may be provided so the air of the corresponding barrier a may disperse upwardly as it flows toward suction nozzle 30a and. fibers which may be borne upwardly by the air barrier may be sucked into the suction nozzle 30a and tube 27a through slots 64, 64' as the major portion of the fiber waste directed to suction nozzle 30a is sucked into the open lower end of nozzle 30a.

Medial portions of ducts 25a, 25a may be provided with suitable filters or screens 67, 67' therein for collecting thereagainst any fiber waste picked up by the suction zones elfected by nozzles 30a, 30a. The fiber waste collecting on screens 67, 67 may be removed periodically by any suitable means. However, since the particular structure for collecting the fiber waste in the ducts 25a, 25a and for subsequently disposing of the fiber waste so collected is immaterial to the present method, a detailed description and illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. By way of example, the screens 67, 67 of FIGURE 5 may be arranged in the manner disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,003,178 and the fiber waste collected on screens 67, 67' may be periodically removed therefrom in the manner disclosed in said last-named patent.

Blower casing has the proximal, inner, ends of four outwardly extending volute arms or blowing ducts 40a, 41a, 40a and 41a communicatively connected thereto and curving outwardly therefrom. Ducts: 40a, 41a extend outwardly, beyond the vertical plane of one side of the row machines 63, and straddle suction tube 27a. Ducts 40a, 41a extend outwardly beyond the vertical plane of the other side of the row of machines 63 and straddle suction tube 27a.

It can thus be seen that ducts 40a, 41a generally correspond to the respective ducts 40, 41 of the traveling blowing cleaner 11 shown in FIGURE 2. Ducts 40a, 41a (FIGURE 5) also correspond generally to ducts 40, 41 of FIGURE 3. However, it should be noted that ducts 40a, 41a are arranged in opposite relation to the ducts 40a, 41a in FIGURE 5 as will be presently described.

The outer ends of ducts 40a, 41a, 40a, 41a in FIG- URE 5 have the upper ends of respective blowing tubes 42a, 43a, 42a, 43a communicatively connected thereto. The closed lower ends of blowing tubes 42a, 43a, 42a,

43a, terminate in closely spaced relation above the floor adjacent the row of machines 63 and have respective blowing nozzles 47a, 45a, 47a, 45a thereon which are preferably positioned in closely spaced relation above the floor level in substantially the same manner as the respective blowing nozzles 47, 45 have been described with reference to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

Both blowing nozzles 47a, 47a may face substantially longitudinally with respect to the path of travel of the traveling cleaner of FIGURE 5, but face in opposite directions so the air flowing from blowing nozzle 47a forms the air barrier 50a of FIGURE 5, which flows along the floor and toward the suction zone effected by nozzle 30a at the corresponding side of the machine. Similarly, the air flowing from blowing nozzle 4711 forms the air barrier 50a which flows along the floor and toward the suction zone effected by nozzle 30a at the side of the row of machines 63 opposite from air barrier 50a, but in laterally ofi-set relation thereto.

It is thus seen that blowing transverse air streams 46a, 46a from the respective nozzles 45a, 45a flow generally parallel to each other but in opposite directions without conflicting with each other and, in so doing, direct fiber waste on the floor, in the path of flow thereof, across the floor toward the aisles at opposite sides of the corresponding row of machines 63, and the two air barriers 50a, 50a intercept and thus restrict the outward flow of the fiber waste conveyed by the two air streams 46a, Ma and direct the corresponding fiber waste toward the suction zones eflected by the respective suction nozzles 30a, 30a, thus effecting an eflicient removal of the fiber waste from the floor at both sides of the corresponding row of machines 63.

Third embodiment In the embodiment of FIGURE 7, the suction and blowing nozzles may be carried by a traveling suction cleaner and a traveling blowing cleaner of the type indicated at 10, 11 in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. Accordingly, the tubes which carry the suction and blowing nozzles in FIGURE 7, and which correspond to the tubes 27, 27, 42, 43 of FIGURE 3 are indicated at 27b, 27b, 42b and 43b in FIGURE 7. The suction nozzles on the lower ends of suction tubes 27]), 27b are indicated at 30b, 30b and may be identical to the respective suction nozzles 30, 30' of FIGURE 3.

The arrangement of FIGURE 7 ditfers from that of FIGURES 14 in that the lower portions of the blowing tubes 42b, 43b are provided with respective pairs of blowing nozzles 70, 71, 72, 73 thereon, which maybe positioned adjacent the lower ends of the tubes 42b, 43b in substantially the same manner as that in which the blowing nozzles 47, 45 are positioned adjacent the lower ends of respective tubes 42, 43 of FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The blowing nozzles 70, 72 direct blowing streams of air generally toward the respective suction nozzles 30b, 30b at the same sides of the machines 74, which air streams form respective air barriers 50b, 50b.

The blowing nozzles 71, 73 face inwardly in diverging relation with respect to the respective air barrier nozzles 70, 72 and generally face diagonally toward the suction nozzles at the opposite sides of the machines 74. In othe words, blowing nozzle 71 directs an auxiliary air stream 46b beneath the machines 74 substantially toward suction nozzle 30]) at the opposite side of the machines therefrom, and blowing nozzle 73 directs another auxiliary air stream 461) beneath the machines 74 and toward the suction nozzle 30b. Thus, the air streams 46b, 46b emanate from nozzles 71, 73 and flow toward each other but in angular relationship so that they intercept each other beneath the central portion of the machines and about half-way between the lateral planes of blowing nozzles 70-73 and suction nozzles 30!), 3012, so that each auxiliary air stream 46b, 46b at least partially deflects the other outwardly toward the same side of the machines from which the corresponding stream is flowing. This is largely due to the fact that both auxiliary air streams 46b, 46b flow at substantially the same velocity.

Although the auxiliary air streams 46b, 46b decrease in velocity and expand as they flow away from the respective nozzles 71, 73, a substantial portion of each moving air stream 46b, 46b is deflected or diverted outwardly toward the corresponding air barrier 501; or 50b so that both the auxiliary air streams 46b, 46b and the air barriers 58b, 50b assist directing fiber waste across the floor beneath the machines and toward the suction zones produced by suction nozzles 30b, 30b.

Although the auxiliary air streams 46b, 46b are shown in FIGURE 7 as though they divert outwardly in diverging angular paths from the central portion of machines 74 toward the suction nozzles 30b, 3%, it is apparent.

that the exact path of flow of the air in the auxiliary streams would be very difficult to determine. Experiments have shown that the air streams flow generally in the manner shown. Theoretically, the central area, at which the auxiliary air streams 46b, 46b collide, is under higher pressure than the areas laterally thereof at opposed sides of the machines, so the air flows outwardly from the central area and blows fiber waste outwardly from beneath the machines, against the air barriers 50b, 50b, and toward the suction nozzles 30b, 30b.

The air barrier nozzles 70, 72 may extend directly parallel with the path of travel thereof, but are shown extending inwardly at a slight angle of approximately ten degrees, for example. This may be desirable in some instances so that the natural dispersion of the air barrier 50b, Stib may not be such as to blow fiber waste 0 twardly of the paths of travel of the suction zones at nozzles 30b, 30b. The velocity of the air diminishes as the distance from the nozzles -73 increases. Therefore, fiber waste on the floor near the center of the machines is borne past those inner portions of air barriers 50b, 50b near the suction nozzles 30b, 30b by the auxiliary air streams 46b, 46b so as to be sucked into the nozzles 30b, 30b.

Occasionally, extraneous particles of fiber waste may drift outwardly of and near the suction nozzles 30a, 30b, but may be out of range of the effective suction zones. Generally, the air displaced with the air streams 46b, 46b, 50b, 50!) produces a slight relatively negative pressure in the aisles and adjacent the lower portions of the blowing tubes 42b, 4311, other than at the blowing nozzles 7043. Such negative pressure causes ambient air to flow inwardly toward the blowing tubes 42b, 43b and air barriers 50b, 5%, thus directing such extraneous particles of fiber waste toward and into the air barriers 50b, 5% so they are sucked into nozzles 30b, 30b.

Fourth embodiment In the embodiment of FIGURE 8, the suction and blowing nozzles are arranged in substantially the same manner in which they are arranged in FIGURE 7 and, accordingly, a detailed description of the arrangement thereof will not be given and the suction and blowing nozzles of FIGURE 8, and the corresponding tubes, will bear the same reference numerals as the suction nozzles and tubes shown in FIGURE 7 with the letter c being applied to the numerals in FIGURE 8 in place of the letter b of FIGURE 7 and with the letter c being added to the other numerals in FIGURE 8 which correspond to those numerals in FIGURE 7 which do not have a suflix letter thereafter.

The arrangement of FIGURES 8 and 9 differs from that of FIGURE 7 in that tertiary air streams or air currents, indicated by arrows in FIGURES 8 and 9, are continuously flowing outwardly from the central portion of each machine 74c, substantially throughout the length thereof and toward one side thereof, at least whenever such machine or machines are in operation.

In this instance, the tertiary currents of air 75 are created by the surface friction of a rotating spindle-driving cylinder 76 past the ambient air. As is well known, cylinder 76 is a conventional element of a spinning frame, twister or other analogous machine. As is usual, the cylinder 76 shown in FIGURE 9 extends longitudinally of the corresponding machine 740, above the floor upon which the machine rests, and drives the usual spindles 77 by means of endless tapes 80. The tapes 80 extend around cylinder 76 and outwardly from the upper portion thereof to the usual whorls on the spindles 77. The spindles 77 support bobbins 81 on which textile strand material is wound.

As is the case with the arrangement of FIGURE 7, the nozzles 71c, 730 of FIGURE 8 direct the corresponding auxiliary air streams 46c, 46c inwardly toward, but in angular relationship to, each other so they intercept each other at a point substantially centrally of the machine 74c beneath cylinder 76 and at a point approximately half-way between the suction nozzles 30c, 30c and the blowing nozzles 700-730. However, the force of the tertiary air currents 75 is coupled with the force of the auxiliary air stream 460 flowing from the opposite side of the machine from that toward which the tertiary air currents are flowing, and the combined force of the latter auxiliary air stream 460' and the corresponding tertiary air currents 75 overcome the other auxiliary air stream 460 so that both auxiliary air streams 46c, 46c largely flow outwardly in the same direction from the area at which they intercept each other.

In so doing, both auxiliary air streams direct fiber waste outwardly at one side of the machines 74c toward air barrier 500 so that all three of the latter air streams 46c, 46c, 500 are effective in directing fiber waste toward the suction zone produced by suction nozzle 300. Any fiber waste directed into the path of flow of air barrier 50c by eddy currents or turbulence created by auxiliary air stream 460' and by rotation of cylinder 76, and which may flow in directions other than those indicated by the arrows designating the air streams 46c, 46c, 50c and 75 in FIGURE 8, will generally be intercepted by air barrier 50c and thus directed to the suction nozzle 300'.

It is thus seen that I have provided various arrangements illustrating various ways in which the present method may be carried out and in which an air barrier or barriers are produced at either or both sides of a row of textile machines in which the air forming the air barrier or air barriers flows toward a corresponding suction zone or zones moving in paths substantially parallel to a row of textile machines and wherein an auxiliary air stream or streams direct fiber waste outwardly from beneath the machines, across the floor and toward the air barrier or air barriers and/ or corresponding suction zones for collecting and disposing of the fiber waste.

There are many conditions which should be considered in practicing the present method, such as the distance between the suction nozzles and the blowing nozzles forming the corresponding air barriers, the distance between each suction nozzle and the blowing nozzle at the side of the machines opposite from the suction nozzle, the width of aisles between adjacent rows of machines, the speed at which the nozzles are propelled along the length of the machines, etc. Accordingly, the angles at which the blowing nozzles are positioned about the axes of the corresponding blowing tubes and the effective sizes of the air discharge openings of the blowing nozzles are preferably determined empirically during installation of the apparatus used for practicing the method.

For example, in a typical installation such as is shown in FIGURE 7, the blowing tubes 42b, 43!) were positioned approximately four feet apart and four to five feet from the respective suction tubes 27b, 27b. Approximately 600 cubic feet of air was sucked into each nozzle 30b, 30b per minute and air was discharged from blowing nozzles 70, 72 and 71, 73 at respective volumes of 55 and 40 cubic feet per minute and at a nozzle velocity of approximately 4000 feet per minute. As pointed out above, however, the amount of air displaced by the various nozzles, and the distance between the nozzles may vary in dilferent installations as conditions may require.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. A method of cleaning the floor in a textile mill which comprises applying a localized suction zone adjacent the floor level at one side of a row of textile machines, creating a blowing barrier air stream blowing toward said suction zone from a first point adjacent the floor level at said one side of the row of textile machines and spaced from said localized zone, creating a cross air stream blowing beneath said row of textile machines toward said barrier air stream from a second point adjacent the floor level at the other side of said row of textile machines, and causing said suction zone and said points to travel in unison in the same direction, such that said suction zone and said first point travel in tandem along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said one side of said row of machines and said second point travels along a predetermined path substantially parallel with said other side of said row of machines, said cross air stream serving to blow fiber waste from beneath said row of machines toward said barrier air stream and the latter serving to deflect the fiber waste toward said localized suction zone where it is sucked therewithin and collected.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises applying a second localized suction zone adjacent the floor level at said other side of the row of textile machines, creating a second barrier air stream blowing toward said second suction zone from a third point adjacent the floor level at said other side of the row of textile machines and spaced from said second suction zone, creating a second cross air stream blowing beneath said row of textile machines generally parallel with said first-named cross air stream and toward said second barrier air stream from a fourth point adjacent the floor level. at said one side of said row of textile machines, and causing said second suction zone and said third and fourth points to travel in unison with and in the same direction. as said first-named suction zone and said first and second points.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the direction of flow of said first-named cross air stream from said second point is such with respect to the direction of flow of said second cross air stream from said fourth point that fiber waste entrained in the second cross air stream is deflected back toward the second blowing barrier air stream and thus deflected toward the first-named localized suction zone.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,463,583 7/1923 Holleran. 2,758,041 8/1956 Denning 134-21 X 3,053,700 9/1962 Kulp 134-21 X 3,055,038 9/1962 Black 15312.1 3,080,598 3/1963 McEachern l53l2.1 3,089,176 5/1963 Bahnson et al l5-312.l

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. I, ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner, 

